FIREDRAKE - 9th grade
Algebra 1--We have struggled this year to find the right curriculum that works for Firedrake. We have been using Math U See but that proved to be a big NO once we hit Algebra, so we switch to Khan online and that also proved to not work for her. So after many hours of researching and asking other homeschoolers we finally chose Teaching Textbooks. While my daughter is still not crazy about it (not sure we will ever find a math program she would love) we at least have stopped the tears and anger every time I mentioned the word Math:) We are BEHIND but catching up
History-- Firedrake is taking a American history/literature class at coop. She is getting a review of early American History in this class (we covered this last year) while at home we are concentrating on the the latter part of American History. I pull our own resources and use many textbooks, as well as a literature books, videos, movies and documentaries for this subject. Various projects are done for her coop class and at home.
Biology 2 -- we are using EO Wilson books 4, 5, 6 and 7 this year (we used book 1,2,3 last year for Bio 1). My husband is responsible for this subject and he takes it very seriously. Currently they have just started book 6. My husband is testing my daughter after every chapter and is doing very well. My husband's test are quite HARD! ON TARGET
Spanish 2-- Taking at Coop. Firedrake has decide she does not want continue with Spanish after this year. I am very disappointed but we have agreed to let her stop if she continues with her Japanese lessons. She is doing well in the class but I can tell her effort in it has decreased. At mid term she still earned an A but I have to push her more this year to keep up with the studying.--So ON TARGET
Japanese 1-- Firedrake is taking private lesson with a tutor to learn Japanese and she LOVES it so far. She is using the book Genki and soaking up everything in her lesson. This tutor does do testing and she is earning an A so far. I just hope that when it starts to get even harder she won't lose interest like she did for Spanish. ON TARGET
Drawing 2 -- Taken at coop class and she is doing well and we can see a great improvement in her capabilities. ON TARGET
Music -- Piano lesson taking privately which include music theory. ON TARGET
America Literature -- This is taken at coop class and it is Firedrakes favorite class and teacher (so she reports). This class includes, public speaking, writing, vocabulary and grammar. She has earned an A+ this past semester. ON TARGET
Volunteering -- Firedrake volunteers 16 hours a month at our local World Bird Sanctuary. He is learning a great deal about birds and work skills. So far this year she has completed 135 hours:)
MARIOFAN - 7th grade
Math -- We are using Math U See Zeta and doing well. I am noticing he is beginning to struggle (this is exactly the place where we sort of lost Firedrake:() So I am considering switching to Teaching textbooks for pre-algebra next year. But we will continue with this program this year ON TARGET
Science -- I create our own science program based on my son's interest and what I think we still need to learn. We started off learning about the Periodic table and doing a bit of Chemistry. Then we switch to physics with a simple machines unit of which we are almost done. Not sure what we will examine next but MarioFan and I are discussing it. ON TARGET
Writing -- We are using IEW continuation and slowly working though the book. Writing is a bit more of a struggle for MarioFan so we need to take it slow and easy.
Spelling -- We are on book 6 of AAS and only have 6 weeks left before completing the program. ON TARGET
Vocabulary -- I added this in late choosing to use Wordly Wise book 7. He is doing well will with it so far. A BIT BEHIND but catching up:)
Reading -- we are doing a mini book club at coop with a friend and choosing great literature books and doing special projects, answering questions and comparing movies to the books we have read. ON TARGET
History -- This is the one area where my two kids work together. Currently we are discussing, reading and watching documentaries on WWII the pacific campaign. ON TARGET
Grammar -- We use the program Growing with Grammar and are on the last chapter so should be finished with it very soon. ON TARGET
Art -- Takes this class at coop ON TARGET
Spanish intermediate -- Takes this class at coop and is doing well with all tests and quizzes seems to have a knack for this language so I am hopeful he will continue it into high school. ON TARGET
Geography -- Yikes completely missed the ball on this one:( other than looking at maps when discussing WWI and WWII events. I sort of miss our country studies but I just don't know when or where we can fit anything else in our school day. BEHIND
Computer -- We are using Kid Coder Gaming on line program this year. MarioFan loves the program and he can do it independently which is great for me as I know nothing about gaming and computers.
ON TARGET
JA Bizztown -- MarioFan attends classes at coop for this. We will attend a full day at our local JA Bizztown the end of March. We did this two years ago and it was an amazing experience where kids are assigned a job and earn money and see how a community works. Right now the kids are learning the skills of check writing, balance a check book and understanding credit cards vs debit cards. ON TARGET
Whew that is are progress for this year. For the most part I am happy with where the kids are. I just notice that we have no formal PE program for either kids scheduled so that needs to be looked into as well.
I will leave you with this picture of the book club boys at my home watching Wizard of OZ and having a picnic in our living room:)
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